The negative with making a chute is that there are two sides to be squished against. A 900+ lb cow is not to be trifled with, especially when she's agitated and throwing herself around because her collar has a rope attached to the wall. Eventually got her to a place where I could get the milker onto her. She has teeny tiny teats :) Washed her, which she didn't mind, hot water helps, and her udder was hard hard. Stripped each teat, needed a different technique due to the little teats, and attached the machine. She let it be on for a while, before kicking forward and ripping it off, and then standing on it. Wonderful. Got covered in poop, but as it's still colostrum I don't use it, and I have enough in the freezer so have just been giving her milk to the cats and dogs. Tried a few more times to re-attach the milking machine, but she didn't want to know. As her udder had a bit taken out and was a little softer, Eleanor could latch on easier. That beautiful calf was just lying in the hay, sleeping, totally unaware of her mums' distress. Got her up to come and nurse, and she did well. Kept Daisy May tied in the stall last night. Changed the lead to Dollys' longer one so that she has enough rope to lie down and get back up. Meant that I had a lot more poop to shovel this morning, but she's calmer.
Discovered that she likes her chin being scratched, and above her tail, like my other girls. I brushed her while talking to her gently. Still wouldn't try take her on a lead though. She'd pull me around. This morning the milking went a lot easier, although she did kick the milker off twice. Each time I said NO in a very firm and loud voice while kicking her on her thigh. But she likes grain ! At last, although I have mixed feelings about it. She does prefer hay though, and won't try an apple. Dolly gobbles apples as fast as she can, like Star and the Scottish Highlands.
Made blueberry buttermilk pancakes for breakfast. Had to wait for Herbie to get back from the store with fresh blueberries. Before he left he asked if I was making the pancakes from scratch or if he should buy a pre-mix. Scratch of course, pre-mixes aren't food. Also made bacon, scrambled eggs and cut up fruit, the 2 different kinds of persimmons Tanya sent, a peach and a banana. Served the pancakes (that I call flapjacks) with the maple syrup I made earlier this year and a sweetened cream cheese \ sour cream topping with a little vanilla. Yummy, and there are enough pancakes for tomorrow again.
Went to the library this afternoon for a movie, got Avatar, which we'd already seen in the theatre when it came out but they didn't have the 2nd one. Love that movie. Made popcorn and cuddled with my honey on the couch. Was a rainy, gray day here today, but at least it reached 51, not the upper 20s like a few days ago.